Relatives of the crew member in the shipwreck: 'Brother, go home to your wife and children'

(Baonghean.vn) - 'Last night, my husband and I texted each other. He said the ship was about to unload cargo and he would go home to visit his child. But now I don't know how he is doing,' said Dung, wife of crew member Nguyen Van Xuan of the VTB26 ship.

» Story of a surviving crew member on a sunken cargo ship in Nghe An

» Mobilizing two teams of divers to search the cabin and compartment of the VTB 26 ship

On the morning of July 18, relatives of the four missing crew members of the cargo ship VTB 26 that sank in the waters of Ngu Island (Cua Lo Town) came to Cua Lo Port Authority to seek information about their loved ones. Everyone's faces showed worry and confusion.

Sitting in the hallway, crying, Ms. Luu Thi Dung, wife of crew member Nguyen Van Xuan - First Officer of the VTB26 ship, could not calm down enough to hear the whole story announced by the Maritime Administration's leaders.

Ms. Luu Thi Dung (in floral shirt), wife of missing crew member Nguyen Van Xuan, cried in the hallway. Photo: Pham Bang

Ms. Dung recounted that on the morning of July 17, a younger brother, after reading the news in the newspaper, called to inform her that the cargo ship that Mr. Xuan was on had been sunk by waves in the waters of Nghe An. She was very confused but still had faith that her husband would be okay. But at noon, after the representative of the VTB 26 ship called to inform that all 13 crew members on board had fallen into the sea, and Mr. Xuan was still missing, the whole family was shocked.

“Around 2pm the day before (July 16), my husband and I texted each other on Facebook. He said he was tired because the big waves and strong winds were making the ship shake constantly. No one on the ship could eat or drink anything. After that, around midnight, I called him but he didn’t answer the phone anymore,” Dung said.

As the only child in the family, Mr. Xuan received all the love and care from his parents for his education. After graduating, Mr. Xuan joined the seafaring team and has been attached to each wave in the open sea for more than 12 years. Although he is at sea for a long time, the couple does not have much time together, but every time he comes home to visit, he always tries to help his wife take care of the children and help her with her work.

When hearing the news of Mr. Xuan's disappearance, his whole family was extremely worried. On the afternoon of July 17, after the company organized a bus for families to go to Nghe An, Mr. Xuan's parents insisted on going just to get information about their son. "My parents kept asking to go, but they are old and sick, so the family discussed and agreed that my uncle, me and my brother-in-law would go to Nghe An. The family's wish is to find him soon, because he promised that after this shipment he would come back to visit me and my children," Ms. Dung said, sobbing.

Sitting silently since the beginning of the session, Mr. Nguyen Hai Thanh, father of crew member Nguyen Hai Quyet (born 1991) of the VTB 26 ship, still maintained a calm expression on his face. But when asked about Quyet, Mr. Thanh spoke as if he was about to cry.

Director of Vietnam Maritime Administration Nguyen Xuan Sang announced the search and rescue work and encouraged the relatives of the missing crew members. Photo: Thanh Duy

Mr. Thanh said that Mr. Quyet is the eldest child in the family, and later had a younger sister. After graduating from the Maritime College, Mr. Quyet continued to study for an officer's degree and then joined the sea with the VTB 26 ship for nearly a year now. Although they know that the seafaring profession always has many risks, because of his passion, Mr. Thanh and his wife still wholeheartedly support him.

“On the afternoon of July 16, Quyet called his family. Quyet’s voice was mixed with the sound of the wind and waves, but the family could still hear him saying that the waves were very big out there and that the storm was almost here. Even though he was in the eye of the storm, Quyet still encouraged his family that he was fine and that his parents should not worry. But he didn’t keep his word, uncle,” Mr. Thanh said, wiping away his tears.

According to relatives of the missing crew members, most of them received information about their children through the ship owner VTB 26. On the afternoon of July 17, the ship owner organized a car to take the relatives of the missing crew members to Nghe An. Mr. Nguyen Van Sinh, father of crew member Nguyen Van Duong (born in 1989) of the ship VTB 26, said, initially we saw that the ship owner was responsible and actively supported the families of the crew members.

Sharing about his son, Mr. Sinh said that his son is a filial son, always worrying about his parents' health even though he is often away from home. "On the evening of July 16, he called me to say that the storm was approaching, so his parents should check the weak spots in the house and reinforce them. I have brothers here on the ship, so my parents don't have to worry about me. But in the end, he made his parents worry...", Mr. Sinh said.

Today, besides Mr. Sinh, there was Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue, Mr. Duong's older sister. Her face was red, Ms. Hue still could not believe that her beloved younger brother was still missing in the middle of the vast ocean. "He just got married, the children are still young so his wife has to stay home to look after the children so she cannot come. The family just hopes to find him soon to bring him home," Ms. Hue said.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue, sister of crew member Nguyen Van Duong. Photo: Pham Bang

Sharing the concerns of the families of the missing crew members, Director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration Nguyen Xuan Sang promised to do his utmost, using the most modern rescue equipment to search for the missing crew members. At the same time, Mr. Sang also hoped that the families of the crew members would remain calm, composed, and cooperate with the authorities to jointly implement the best rescue plans.

“The search and rescue forces will do their best, and the rescue work will not stop until the crew members are found. We must never stop hoping that the crew members will return to their families and to everyone,” Mr. Sang affirmed.

Pham Bang - Thanh Duy